VOLUNTEER rescuers are among flood heroes being honoured by a reception with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on Monday evening.

Three members of the Flookburgh-based Bay Search and Rescue are among emergency workers invited so David Cameron can personally thank those who worked long and hard in dangerous conditions to save lives and property during the recent floods.

The invitation came to Gary Parson, of Crosthwaite, founder and station officer of the voluntary organisation. “I’m proud as punch,” he said.

He is taking two colleagues: his deputy Paul Calland who was on bronze command in Kendal during Storm Desmond and also helped on the front line; and Steven Fell, whose good seamanship allowed him to lead an expedition to restore fresh water to thousands of homes in Patterdale.

He was asked to take United Utilities engineers into the flooded area around Ullswater to repair the fresh water pumping station through woods in the pitch black dark night.

As a result of the operation fresh water was restored to 300 homes which had been without for two days.

Steven was navigating a new American Air Boat, piloted by Gary, and which was purchased by Bay Search and Rescue and is the first of its kind in the country.

This brings the organisation’s fleet up to six vehicles worth a total of £500,000. They have four Haggland ex military personnel carriers. They are amphibious and ideal for operations in floods, snow or the treacherous quick sands in the mud of Morecambe Bay. They also have an inflatable boat.

Bay Search and Rescue is called in by local authority fire and rescue services for operations needing specialist support.

As well as Cumbria, they were also called in across the Lancashire flood areas in December.

The organisation has 120 volunteers, of whom just 20 are trained rescuers. The others help raise funds and other administration.

Bay Search was formed in 2001 by former coast-guards Mr Parsons and Adrian Swenson, of Arnside, who wanted the freedom to explore modern and technically advanced methods of saving people.

They were prompted by an incident back in 1996 of a man trapped in the sands near Silverdale who was only rescued in the nick of time as water lapped at his lips. Getting the right equipment was seen as crucial to such rescues.

“AS an organisation we provide an instant service to the public, completely without charge,” said Mr Parsons, an anaesthetics practitioner at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

“We take great pride in the work we do and what we achieve. As founding member and commanding officer, it gives me great pride to be able to nominate two of the team for their outstanding conduct during what were very intense and demanding circumstances.”